OUTLOOK December 8, 2020

Volume 80 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF GLENDALE No. 22 Celebrating the Generosity of Our Church 2020 Stewardship Campaign Results

Thank you to everyone who took part in our annual stewardship campaign by making a pledge or commitment to demonstrate your generosity by financially supporting the missions and ministries of Glendale First United Methodist Church in 2021.

We can celebrate the following:  We had a total of 69 pledges made.  Of those received, only 3 decreased their commitment from the previous year, but 20 increased their commitment from the year prior.  We also had 16 new commitments this year, with those commitments totaling more than $48,300.00  Our pledged and projected giving for 2020 was $289,344, which we are expecting to exceed.  Our current pledged and projected giving for 2021 is $304,800 which is an increase of $15,456.

To have these signs of growth, health, and an increase in the generosity being demonstrated by those who call Glendale First UMC their church home during these difficult times is a wonderful testament to the faithfulness of all those involved and a witness to what God is doing among us.

Even though we will continue to face many of the challenges this year has brought us, at least in the early portions 2021, I am wonderfully excited and optimistic to see how we can continue this strong momentum and use it to help return GFUMC to a new era of growth, health, and revitalization.

Yours in Christ, Rev. Kris Tate

Please Join: Columbarium Committee

The Church is an important part of a person’s spiritual growth throughout their lifetime, but it can also be a space in which to spend their eternal life. Since cremation has become more popular, deciding where to place one’s remains has become as important as deciding who will perform the funeral ceremony. In the past, most people were buried in the local cemetery and little thought was given to alternative options. However, today, many churches have built a columbarium, a structure for the respectful storage of cremated remains, to allow for complete ministry from baptism to burial. The idea of a columbarium on the grounds of our church has been discussed for several years. It would allow for persons to remain spiritually connected to this community of faith for eternity. At this time, a committee is being formed to study the location and design of such a columbarium. If you are interested in serving on this committee during the upcoming year, please contact Tyler Schmidt at [email protected], Kris Tate at [email protected] or call Ardel at the church office (818) 243-2105. Once the committee is formed a mutual time for meeting will be determined. OUTLOOK Page 2

Hunger ministries for homeless and housing-insecure individuals and families:

Glendale First participates regularly in the following ministries serving homeless and housing- insecure individuals and families, all of which are operating under COVID-19 guidelines. Opportunities during Advent include the following: Ascencia: Assisting with dinner preparation and delivery to Glendale’s Homeless Shelter on Saturday, December 12. Meal preparation will be by arrangement with the team leader. Our scheduled serving dates are on the second Saturdays of each month. Sunday Lunch Program: While to-go meals will be served by teams at Salem Lutheran Church in December and Glendale Presbyterian in January, First Methodist continues to serve as the hub and distributor for weekly donations from Olive Garden and Pizza Hut. If you would consider filling in on occasion for food pick-up and storage duty, you’re invited to join Joylene on one of her weekly rounds (usually on Tuesday in the late morning). Email or text her to schedule a shadowing day! [email protected]; cell: 818-321-8095. While Family Promise of the Verdugos currently houses its families in motels, partnering churches continue “hosting” through financial contributions toward the necessary meals. Please contact Nancy Kachline if you are interested in assisting: [email protected].

Support for Salvation Army

The economic impact of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic is vast: schools are closed, businesses are threatened, and tens of thousands of people are newly out of work. The Salvation Army is being called to respond to this crisis and provide for people in need.

Donations from November were greatly appreciated. They helped provide services and assistance to people facing economic hardship. The support of a bag of groceries will go a long way for people facing uncertain times ahead. Thank you for everyone’s participation in our Food Drive. See the back page for info on December's toy drive.

Bruce Hinckley and Rev. Kris Tate delivering food to the Salvation Army. OUTLOOK

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Cookies and Crèches Needed!

We are looking forward to our annual Cookies, Carols and Crêches program which will be broadcast on our YouTube channel the week before Christmas. There will be holiday solos, music by Cathedral Choir and a carol sing along, all accompanied by the piano stylings of Ladd Thomas. We need your help with the cookies and crèches! Please get out your holiday recipes and make a batch of your famous Christmas cookies or other sweet baked goods. Then put them on a plate and have someone take a picture of you and your cookies. Also write down your recipe for us to share on the video so we can make and taste your cookies, too! For many of us, setting up our family nativity scene is a precious childhood Christmas memory. As we see and even touch or play with the figures, Jesus’ birth and all its characters are even more present for us. If you haven’t already set up your manger scene or crèche, please locate your wise men, shepherds and the holy family, arrange them just right and take a picture. Send in your photo and we’ll share it on the video. To send in photos of crèches, cookies and recipes*, please email as attachments to two addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]. The deadline to be included in the video is Sunday, December 13 at 8:00pm. If you need technical help with attaching photos to email, write to Ammiel at the above email address. Thank you for putting us all in the holiday spirit! *Recipes can be photos of your actual recipe card or can be written or typed out and we’ll make it pretty!

Hanukkah Begins Thursday Evening

Hanukkah, or The Festival of Lights, is a holiday celebrating the triumph over religious persecution. It commemorates the purification and rededication of the in Jerusalem after the against the Assyrian Greeks in 165 BCE, who had banned Jewish religious practice, forced worship of the Greek gods, and desecrated the Temple. Once the Temple was restored, the Eternal Flame needed to be lit, but it was discovered that there was only enough oil to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days! That was long enough to secure and consecrate more oil. The typical Menorah used in the Temple has seven branches, but the , or Hanukkiah, has nine -- one for each of the eight nights that the oil lasted, plus a shamash or “helper” to light the others. On the first night one candle is placed and lit; on the second two, on the third three, and so forth, until all eight are lit on the eighth night. A blessing is sung as the candles are lit. Since oil is such a central feature of the miracle, it has become tradition to eat foods fried in oil: , (potato pancakes) served with and sour cream, Sufganiyot (jelly filled doughnuts) and Blintzes, to name a few. Fun for the kids is the Game. A Dreidel is a four-sided top, with a Hebrew letter on each side. Together, the four letters stand for a Hebrew phrase which means “A Great Miracle Happened There.” In , the last letter is changed, because the phrase is “A Great Miracle Happened Here.” Depending on how your spin lands you either add to or take from the pot of chocolate coins or Hanukkah gelt. Hanukkah is not a major holiday, so there are no services in Temple. However, due to its proximity to Christmas, it has become more important. The tradition of exchanging gifts has been added, especially in North America. It is a time to gather with family and friends. - By Claudia Sobol Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

We’re on the web OUTLOOK www.glendalefirst.org

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF GLENDALE 134 NORTH KENWOOD ST REET, GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 91206

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PERIODICAL TIME VALUE - December 8, 2020

Prayer Concerns: Outlook - Volume 80, No 22 Tuesday, December 8, 2020 Jenny Astupinaro, Andres Astupinaro, Marion Badger, Minnie Dreese, Deadline for December 22, 2020 issue is Thursday, December 17, 2020 Ray Ellinwood, Martha Fisher, Mary Galleher, Alfredo Guerrero, Albert USPS 775-180 Hernandez, Thomas Koronas, Judy Krynski, Bennie Martinez, JoAnn McBride, Rev. Kris Tate, Senior Minister Phone: (818) 243-2105 Fax: (818) 243-6837 Jon, Lin, Shirley Tice, Pat Tomlin, Maria Victorina, Mary West, Joyce Woodruff. Website: www.glendalefirst.org Editor: Ardel Christensen Names are included at the request of the person seeking prayer.

Poinsettias Toy Drive for the Salvation Army

Each year we are given the opportunity to The Salvation Army is low on toys for children ages 8 remember loved ones by placing a poinsettia in to 12. Recommendations for this age group include legos, sports equipment, craft kits, $10, $15 or $25 gift the Sanctuary in their memory, or in thanksgiving cards, and beauty supplies. Drop toys off at the Church for their lives. This year’s beautiful plants will office by Friday, December 11. If you prefer to have cost $8.50 and will adorn the sanctuary during the the committee shop, donations are accepted by check or Christmas season for our digital recordings. online. Two ways to donate online: 1. Go to the church website and click on GIVE If you wish to remember someone in this Tithes and Offerings. Select the Give Online button. Follow the instructions on the screen. Under “Funds” way, call the church office at (818) 243-2105, select “Mission - Toy Drive”, continue following on email Ardel at [email protected], or screen instructions. simply mail a check to the church and include the 2. Text "Glendalemethodist" to 77977. When you get to the “Funds” select “Missions - Toy Drive” names of those you are recognizing. and continue following on screen instructions.